Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-550-4900 Disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments—General provision, 182-550-4935 DSH eligibility—Change in hospital ownership, 182-550-4940 Disproportionate share hospital independent audit findings and recoupment process, 182-550-5000 Payment method—Low income disproportionate share hospital (LIDSH), 182-550-5150 Payment method—Medical care services disproportionate share hospital (MCSDSH), 182-550-5200 Payment method—Small rural disproportionate share hospital (SRDSH), 182-550-5300 Payment method—Children's health program disproportionate share hospital (CHPDSH), and 182-550-5400 Payment method—Public hospital disproportionate share hospital (PHDSH); other related rules as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (agency) is amending these rules as an overall housekeeping project. Additionally, the agency is removing definitions for "base year" and "uninsured patient," removing "with special needs" language from low-income clients, updating the abbreviation of the medicaid inpatient utilization rate from MIPUR to MIUR to align with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, updating WAC cross referencing, standardizing language, removing language stating that the DSH application is posted to the agency's website, updating that the agency will use the medicare cost report rather than the DRDF to determine a hospital's MUIR, removing DSH programs no longer funded and not part of the program, and audit requests for additional information must be received 10 days from the initial notification. Also updating the name of the "provider data summary schedule (PDSS)" to "schedule of annual reporting requirements (SARR)." During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional related changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, the agency will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Valerie Freudenstein (Rule-making Questions), P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1344, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay services (TRS) 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Mary O'Hare (Program Questions), P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-9820, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email mary.ohare@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.